Cinema Makeup School has expanded! Due to the high demand of the Entertainment Industry for trained artists in the field of Beauty and Special Effects Makeup, Cinema Makeup School has been growing by leaps and bounds! We have seen the addition of a new floor, directly above the original suite, that not only holds new classroom space but also a reference library complete with state-of-the-art iMac G5 computers, a studio with wardrobe and photography areas, a new break lounge, and the reception area. We are still in the process of adding various final touches and hope to have it completed by Spring 2005. The Third Floor suite has undergone extensive renovations during the Christmas Break, and will also have many new upgraded equipment and fixtures. Anyone who has not been back for a visit in awhile would be quite surprised!

Our current High Fashion class has just returned from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, teaming up with its best photography students and a team of models to create amazing photographs of their beauty and avantgarde makeup. This is a precursor of an exciting partnership between Brooks and Cinema Makeup School, and we're excited for the future partnership between our two schools.

Cinema Makeup School was invited to perform two makeup demonstrations as well as host our own booth at 2004’s Japan Expo held on November 27 & 28 at the LA Convention Center. Graduate students Nao Yoshida and Yuri Kondo represented the school by doing High Fashion/Avant Garde makeups based on traditional Japanese makeup and wardrobe. The results were stunning and the response was positive, with Shiseido Cosmetics sponsoring the two artists for this event.

Tom Devlin instructs our Special Makeup Effects and Prosthetics classes. Tom gained much of his experience working for WM Creations on projects such as The Scorpion King, Red Dragon, Charlie’s Angels 2, and Daredevil. His work could also be seen on television programs such as “X-Files”, “CSI Miami”, and “Ally McBeal”.

Ralis Kahn, who teaches our Character classes, has had a successful career as a Special Makeup FX Artist in the entertainment industry. More notably, he has created and applied much of the prosthetic work for Marilyn Manson’s albums and videos, including the infamous “female body form”. He has as worked on countless feature films, including working on Nelly Recchia’s team on the upcoming feature film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang featuring Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr.

Our Administrator and resident Prosthetics and Special Makeup FX Instructor Lee Joyner just finished an Otis maquette/scan model for Nickelodeon for its upcoming animated feature The Barnyard. As well as working on films and televised promotionals. Mr. Joyner also works as a toy sculptor, bringing to the CMS Sculpture Studio his unique perspective on different avenues of work available for students who are interested in pursuing sculpture as a possible career path.

Beauty instructor Mirielle Bertrand led a team of her students from the September 2004 High Fashion class as they did the hair and makeup for Fashion For The Cure’s Spring/Summer 2005 fashion event that took place in the Fashion Theater at the legendary California Mart. Featured guest celebrity designer was Sterling Capricio. Besides teaching at CMS, Mirielle is very busy in her professional life. She is doing all the press releases for designer Sue Wong for Fashion Week 2005, and she is currently the national makeup artist for Estee Lauder.

Nelly Recchia, a world-renowned body make-up artist, returns as instructor for the Beauty/High Fashion Course specializing in airbrushing and body painting at Cinema Makeup School. Her work can be seen on various projects, including art and music videos for Marilyn Manson, Madonna, Skinny Puppy, and Britney Spears. She was recently interviewed for “Shock Magazine” regarding some recent work she has created and added to her website. She is quoted as saying “Make-up is seen as a shallow, even trivial thing...But when you push things a little further you realize that colors, shadows, lines that step by step cover the face, turn the body into a living painting... Human body is transcended...It’s a one of a kind experience, intense...and real deep." Nelly does an amazing job of helping our students find that intensity within themselves.

Nelly Recchia's makeup on Master Makeup student Emily Kravitz and
High Fashion Photographic Makeup student Eiko Ono, and airbrush makeup
demonstration in High Fashion Photographic Makeup.

In October 2004, Michelle Bankson and Amy Strozzi, graduates from the 2003 Master Makeup program, finished keying an independent feature film called The Hard Easy. This ensemble cast featured David Boreanaz and Nick Lachey as well as several other notable celebrity actors such as Gary Busey, Bruce Dern, Peter Weller and Henry Thomas. Both these grad students have seen much success in the industry, individually and also as a team. Amy did work on Kanye West’s video “Jesus Walks.” Michelle worked on Duran Duran’s video “What Happens Tomorrow” and is on the team for various television appearances as well as music videos for such notables as Britney Spears and Elton John. When not out working on projects, they can be found helping out CMS as we adjust to the new expansion.

Graduate Student, Heather Hera Kim did makeup for popular Korean actor Mr. Sang-Woo Kwon in New York City for a photo shoot this past November. Rochelle Kneisley (graduate 2003 Master Program) has been working extensively since her graduation, keying many projects. She has also been helping fellow graduate students (Laura Blackburn and Dennis Ramirez) get their foot in the door by hiring them to assist with her on the independent feature Never Say MacBeth. Rochelle, along with Jelena Marsinic (another CMS graduate), also finished assisting makeup artist Alex Noble on House of Grimm, featuring veteran horror actor Tony Todd, of Candyman and Night of the Living Dead remake fame. Current Master Makeup student Erin Draney has secured the prosthetics and creature fx for the film Death Valley, working with fellow students Aubrey Jensen, Bria Dorsen and Sarah Kowalick.

Yuri Kondo, Cindi Rodriguez, Eddie Inda, Manny Lejas and Sabrena Mattis worked with student Scott Ham on a tv show for the new Horror Channel, applying prosthetics, character makeup and beauty makeup, transforming actors into horrible ghouls and ghosts.

Finally, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s annual Halloween charity party’s make-up was done by Cinema Makeup School’s own Laura Blackburn, Dennis Ramirez and Helena Ungaro.